Portfolio Cover for Portable Information Handling Systems

ABSTRACT

A portfolio cover for a portable information handling system may include a display portion and an input device portion and a cover portion separated by two hinge sections. The display portion, the input device portion and the cover portion may be reinforced with a polymer laminate and laminated together, while the hinge sections may remain unlaminated.

CROSS-REFERENCE RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/150,447 filed Jan. 8, 2014, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

This disclosure relates generally to portable information handlingsystems and, more particularly, to a portfolio cover for portableinformation handling systems.

2. Description of the Related Art

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individualsand businesses seek additional ways to process and store information.One option available to users is information handling systems. Aninformation handling system generally processes, compiles, stores,and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or otherpurposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of theinformation. Because technology and information handling needs andrequirements vary between different users or applications, informationhandling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled,how the information is handled, how much information is processed,stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the informationmay be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in informationhandling systems allow for information handling systems to be general orconfigured for a specific user or specific use such as financialtransaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage,or global communications. In addition, information handling systems mayinclude a variety of hardware and software components that may beconfigured to process, store, and communicate information and mayinclude one or more computer systems, data storage systems, andnetworking systems.

Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are commonly employed for portableinformation handling systems configured in the form of laptop, notebook,netbook, and tablet computers, among others. The LCD of a typical laptopcomputer is mounted within a display housing that is hingeably attachedto a base housing that contains the keyboard for the notebook computer.Recently various designs for portable information handling systems havebeen introduced that combine conventional laptop and tabletfunctionality, also referred to herein as “tablet-laptop” systems, andmay employ various types of connections to a base housing, includingvarious types hinges and/or removable attachment mechanisms.Furthermore, with the advent of various mobile operating systemssupporting touch operation, integration of touch panels within the LCDassembly of portable information handling systems has become highlyrelevant to satisfying market expectations.

Simultaneously, certain design aspects of tablet-laptop systems presenttechnical and/or aesthetic challenges for manufacture and usability. Forexample, different types of keyboards may be used with tablet-laptopsystems and many newer keyboard designs are much lighter in weight thanin previous laptop systems, which may be desirable for improvedportability. However, as a result of the lighter keyboard, when atablet-laptop system is used in laptop mode, mechanical instability mayarise due to weight imbalance. Design efforts to buttress the hingemechanism in tablet-laptop systems may involve significant complexityand cost, and may further add thickness and weight to the overallpackage, which is undesirable. Furthermore, when tablet-laptop systemsare used in tablet mode, undesirable contact of the keyboard may occurwith a working surface on which the tablet-laptop system is placedduring use.

Accordingly, it is desirable to have an improved design and acorrespondingly improved manufacturing method for portable informationhandling systems, particularly for tablet-laptop systems, that providesan improved hinge design and provides protection to various componentsin different modes of use.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a disclosed method for manufacturing a portfolio coverfor a portable information handling system includes preparing a firstpiece of carbon fiber material to correspond to a width W associatedwith the portable information handling system and in length to a sum of:a first length of a first portion in the first piece corresponding to aninput device of the portable information handling system; a secondlength of a second portion in the first piece corresponding to a displaydevice of the portable information handling system; a third length of athird portion in the first piece corresponding to a cover for at leastone of the display device and the input device; a fourth length of afirst hinge section in the first piece between the first portion and thesecond portion; and a fifth length of a second hinge section in thefirst piece between the second portion and the third portion. The methodmay further include preparing a second piece of carbon fiber material tocorrespond in width to the width W and in length to the first length,including prepregnating the second piece with a thermoplastic material.A first high-strength polymer layer may be laminated to the secondpiece. The method may also include preparing a third piece of carbonfiber material to correspond in width to the width W and in length tothe second length, including prepregnating the third piece with thethermoplastic material. A second high-strength polymer layer may belaminated to the third piece. The method may still further includepreparing a fourth piece of carbon fiber material to correspond in widthto the width W and in length to the third length, includingprepregnating the fourth piece with the thermoplastic material. Alow-friction polymer layer may be laminated to the fourth piece. Themethod may also include prepregnating the first piece with thethermoplastic material at the first portion, the second portion, and thethird portion, and forming the portfolio cover by laminating togetherthe prepregnated first piece, the prepregnated second piece, theprepregnated third piece, and the fourth piece. The first hinge sectionand the second hinge section may remain unprepregnated and/orunlaminated.

Other disclosed aspects include a portfolio cover for a portableinformation handling system and a portable information handling systemincluding the portfolio cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and itsfeatures and advantages, reference is now made to the followingdescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of selected elements of an embodiment of aportable information handling system;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of selected elements of an embodiment ofportfolio cover;

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are block diagrams of selected elements of anembodiment of a portable information handling system with a portfoliocover; and

FIG. 4 is flowchart depicting selected elements of an embodiment of amethod for manufacturing a portfolio cover.

DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENT(S)

In the following description, details are set forth by way of example tofacilitate discussion of the disclosed subject matter. It should beapparent to a person of ordinary skill in the field, however, that thedisclosed embodiments are exemplary and not exhaustive of all possibleembodiments.

As used herein, a hyphenated form of a reference numeral refers to aspecific instance of an element and the un-hyphenated form of thereference numeral refers to the collective or generic element. Thus, forexample, widget “72-1” refers to an instance of a widget class, whichmay be referred to collectively as widgets “72” and any one of which maybe referred to generically as a widget “72”.

For the purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system mayinclude an instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable tocompute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate,switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, orutilize various forms of information, intelligence, or data forbusiness, scientific, control, entertainment, or other purposes. Forexample, an information handling system may be a personal computer, aPDA, a consumer electronic device, a network storage device, or anothersuitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality,and price. The information handling system may include memory, one ormore processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) orhardware or software control logic. Additional components or theinformation handling system may include one or more storage devices, oneor more communications ports for communicating with external devices aswell as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, amouse, and a video display. The information handling system may alsoinclude one or more buses operable to transmit communication between thevarious hardware components.

For the purposes of this disclosure, computer-readable media may includean instrumentality or aggregation of instrumentalities that may retaindata and/or instructions for a period of time. Computer-readable mediamay include, without limitation, storage media such as a direct accessstorage device (e.g., a hard disk drive or floppy disk), a sequentialaccess storage device (e.g., a tape disk drive), compact disk, CD-ROM,DVD, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electricallyerasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and/or flash memory(SSD); as well as communications media such wires, optical fibers,microwaves, radio waves, and other electromagnetic and/or opticalcarriers; and/or any combination of the foregoing.

As noted previously, current portable information handling systems maydemand ever thinner solutions for LCD/touch assemblies (referred toherein as simply as a “display assembly”). However, as thickness ofdisplay assemblies becomes smaller, structural integrity becomes an evermore important issue. As will be described in further detail, theinventors of the present disclosure have developed novel methods andstructures disclosed herein for manufacturing ultra-thin displayassemblies for use in portable information handling systems.

Particular embodiments are best understood by reference to FIGS. 1, 2,3A, 3B, 3C, and 4 wherein like numbers are used to indicate like andcorresponding parts.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagramdepicting selected elements of an embodiment of portable informationhandling system 100. As shown in FIG. 1, components of portableinformation handling system 100 may include, but are not limited to,processor subsystem 120, which may comprise one or more processors, andsystem bus 121 that communicatively couples various system components toprocessor subsystem 120 including, for example, a memory subsystem 130,an I/O subsystem 140, local storage resource 150, and a networkinterface 160. System bus 121 may represent a variety of suitable typesof bus structures, e.g., a memory bus, a peripheral bus, or a local bususing various bus architectures in selected embodiments. For example,such architectures may include, but are not limited to, Micro ChannelArchitecture (MCA) bus, Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus,Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus,PCI-Express bus, HyperTransport (HT) bus, and Video ElectronicsStandards Association (VESA) local bus.

In FIG. 1, network interface 160 may be a suitable system, apparatus, ordevice operable to serve as an interface between information handlingsystem 100 and a network (not shown). Network interface 160 may enableinformation handling system 100 to communicate over the network using asuitable transmission protocol and/or standard, including, but notlimited to, transmission protocols and/or standards enumerated belowwith respect to the discussion of network 155. In some embodiments,network interface 160 may be communicatively coupled via the network toa network storage resource (not shown). The network coupled to networkinterface 160 may be implemented as, or may be a part of, a storage areanetwork (SAN), personal area network (PAN), local area network (LAN), ametropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wirelesslocal area network (WLAN), a virtual private network (VPN), an intranet,the Internet or another appropriate architecture or system thatfacilitates the communication of signals, data and/or messages(generally referred to as data). The network coupled to networkinterface 160 may transmit data using a desired storage and/orcommunication protocol, including, but not limited to, Fibre Channel,Frame Relay, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), Internet protocol (IP),other packet-based protocol, small computer system interface (SCSI),Internet SCSI (iSCSI), Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) or another transportthat operates with the SCSI protocol, advanced technology attachment(ATA), serial ATA (SATA), advanced technology attachment packetinterface (ATAPI), serial storage architecture (SSA), integrated driveelectronics (IDE), and/or any combination thereof. The network coupledto network interface 160 and/or various components associated therewithmay be implemented using hardware, software, or any combination thereof.

As depicted in FIG. 1, processor subsystem 120 may comprise a system,device, or apparatus operable to interpret and/or execute programinstructions and/or process data, and may include a microprocessor,microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), or another digital or analog circuitryconfigured to interpret and/or execute program instructions and/orprocess data. In some embodiments, processor subsystem 120 may interpretand/or execute program instructions and/or process data stored locally(e.g., in memory subsystem 130 and/or another component of physicalhardware 102). In the same or alternative embodiments, processorsubsystem 120 may interpret and/or execute program instructions and/orprocess data stored remotely (e.g., in a network storage resource).

Also in FIG. 1, memory subsystem 130 may comprise a system, device, orapparatus operable to retain and/or retrieve program instructions and/ordata for a period of time (e.g., computer-readable media). Memorysubsystem 130 may comprise random access memory (RAM), electricallyerasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a PCMCIA card, flashmemory, magnetic storage, opto-magnetic storage, and/or a suitableselection and/or array of volatile or non-volatile memory that retainsdata after power to its associated information handling system, such assystem 100, is powered down. Local storage resource 150 may comprisecomputer-readable media (e.g., hard disk drive, floppy disk drive,CD-ROM, and/or other type of rotating storage media, flash memory,EEPROM, and/or another type of solid state storage media) and may begenerally operable to store instructions and/or data. Likewise, networkstorage resource 170 may comprise computer-readable media (e.g., harddisk drive, floppy disk drive, CD-ROM, and/or other type of rotatingstorage media, flash memory, EEPROM, and/or other type of solid statestorage media) and may be generally operable to store instructionsand/or data. In system 100, I/O subsystem 140 may comprise a system,device, or apparatus generally operable to receive and/or transmit datato/from/within system 100. I/O subsystem 140 may represent, for example,a variety of communication interfaces, graphics interfaces, videointerfaces, user input interfaces, and/or peripheral interfaces. Asshown, I/O subsystem 140 may comprise touch panel 142 and displayadapter 144. Touch panel 142 may include circuitry for enabling touchfunctionality in conjunction with a display for (not shown) that isdriven by display adapter 144.

As noted previously, portable information handling systems, such asportable information handling system 100, may be convertible for use asa tablet or a laptop (tablet-laptop). As will be described in furtherdetail herein, the inventors of the present disclosure have discoveredthat a portfolio cover may be employed as a cover and a structuralelement, including integrated hinge functionality, with tablet-laptopsystems. Such a portfolio cover may be integrated into a housing of atablet-laptop system and may include hinge sections for hingefunctionality between foldable portions of the tablet-laptop system. Theportfolio cover may also provide mechanical stability in certain usagearrangements, as well as a protective covering for exposed surfaces indifferent arrangements, as will now be described in further detail.

Turning now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of selected elements of anembodiment of portfolio cover 200 is illustrated. In FIG. 2, portfoliocover 200 is shown as an assembly before attachment to an informationhandling system (see also FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C), that may be atablet-laptop system. As shown in FIG. 2, various elements and/or layersincluded within portfolio cover 200 are depicted to illustrate ageometric arrangement of portfolio cover 200, while certain elements,such as bonding material and/or finishing material, are not shown fordescriptive clarity. Accordingly, a final appearance of portfolio cover200 may differ from the illustration in FIG. 2, which is intended toshow geometry and structural composition.

In FIG. 2, portfolio cover 200 may comprise first piece 204, which maybe prepared to have width W and a length represented by the sum of thevalues L1+L2+L3+H1+H2, as will be specified in further detail. In someembodiments, the values L1, L2, L3, H1, and H2 may vary individually andmay be different from one another. In particular embodiments, the valuesLi, L2, and L3 may be equivalent and/or substantially equivalent amongeach other and may correspond to a length associated with thetablet-laptop system. In certain embodiments, the values H1 and H2 maybe equivalent or substantially equivalent to each other. The width W maycorrespond to a width associated with the tablet-laptop system and mayvary independently of the values L1, L2, L3, H1, and H2.

As shown in FIG. 2, in certain embodiments, first piece 204 may berectangular in shape and/or substantially rectangular in shape withrounded corners, while a corner radius associated with the corners maybe varied, as desired. In different embodiments, first piece 204 may becomprised of a high-strength fabric, such as carbon fiber material,which may provide structural stability, wear resistance, stiffness,durability, and/or a desired aesthetic finish. Length L1 may correspondto a length of an input device included with the tablet-laptop system.Length L2 may correspond to a length of a display device included withthe tablet-laptop system. Length L3 may correspond to a length of acover for at least one of the input device and the display deviceincluded with the tablet-laptop system. Between length L1 and length L2,length H1 may correspond to first hinge section 204-H1 between the inputdevice and the display device. Between length L2 and length L3, lengthH2 may correspond to second hinge section 204-H2 between the displaydevice and the cover.

In FIG. 2, portfolio cover 200 may further comprise second piece 206,which may have width W and length L1 and may represent a strengtheningmember supporting the input device included with the tablet-laptopsystem. Portfolio cover 200 may further comprise third piece 208, whichmay have width W and length L2 and may represent a strengthening membersupporting the display device included with the tablet-laptop system.Portfolio cover 200 may further comprise fourth piece 210, which mayhave width W and length L3 and may represent a low-friction memberforming the cover included with the tablet-laptop system. Second piece206 and third piece 208 may comprise carbon fiber material that has beenbonded and/or laminated to a high-strength polymer piece (not shownindividually) comprised of a high-strength polymer, such as polyamide,having substantially similar dimensions to the respective piece. Fourthpiece 210 may comprise carbon fiber material that has been bonded and/orlaminated to a low-friction polymer piece (not shown individually)comprised of a low-friction polymer, such as polyester, havingsubstantially similar dimensions to fourth piece 210.

As shown in FIG. 2, second piece 206 may be bonded and/or laminated tofirst piece 206 congruent in width W and in a location corresponding tolength L1. Third piece 208 may be bonded to first piece 206 congruent inwidth W and in a location corresponding to length L2. Fourth piece 210may be bonded to first piece 206 congruent in width W and in a locationcorresponding to length L3. After bonding of second piece 206, thirdpiece 208, and fourth piece 210 to first piece 204, first hinge section204-H1 and second hinge section 204-H2 may remain unbonded with asupplemental member and may accordingly remain more flexible than otherportions of portfolio cover 200. Selected embodiments of a manufacturingprocess for forming portfolio cover 200 are described in further detailwith respect to FIG. 4. After forming portfolio cover 200, portfoliocover 200 may be bonded or otherwise mechanically integrated into thetablet-laptop system.

In certain embodiments, portfolio cover 200 may include certainaccommodations for a wireless antenna included in the tablet-laptopsystem. The accommodations may include a cut-out or section of firstpiece 204 that has not been reinforced with a supplemental member. Incertain embodiments, portfolio cover 200 may be formed to include awireless network antenna (i.e., a radio frequency antenna) and maycorrespondingly include an electrical connector (not shown) for thispurpose. In different embodiments, other types of electronic circuitrymay be included within or formed within portfolio cover 200.

Turning now to FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, block diagrams of selected elementsof an embodiment of portable information handling system 300 withportfolio cover 310 are illustrated. The diagrams in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and3C depict portable information handling system 300 from a side view fordescriptive clarity and include input device 302 and display device 304.Input device 302 may represent a keyboard, while display device 304 mayrepresent a display with an integrated touchscreen, and may accordinglyalso provide tactile input functionality. It is noted that portableinformation handling system 300 may be a tablet-laptop system.

In FIG. 3A, portable information handling system 300-1 is shown in aclosed configuration including input device 302, display device 304, andportfolio cover 310. The closed configuration shown in FIG. 3A maycorrespond to a conventional laptop in a closed configuration and, incertain embodiments, may be secured with one or more latches (not shown)or other mechanical detention elements (not shown). In FIG. 3A, firsthinge section 310-H1 of portfolio cover 310 is visible between inputdevice 302 and display device 304 in the closed configuration, whilesecond hinge section 310-H2 of portfolio cover 310 may be used to foldback the remaining cover portion over display device 304.

In FIG. 3B, portable information handling system 300-2 is shown in anopen laptop-style configuration that may be used on working surface 306,which may represent a surface of a desk or a table or similar surface.As shown, portable information handling system 300-2 includes inputdevice 302 and display device 304 in the open configuration for use by auser. In FIG. 3B, first hinge section 310-H1 of portfolio cover 310 isvisible between input device 302 and display device 304 in the openconfiguration, while second hinge section 310-H2 of portfolio cover 310supports the cover portion of portfolio cover 310 used to supportdisplay device 304. Thus, in portable information handling system 300-2,first hinge section 310-H1 and second hinge section 310-H2 of portfoliocover 310 may provide sufficient rigidity to enable usage of displaydevice 304 and input device 302, but yet are still sufficiently flexibleto adapt to the configurations shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, among otherconfigurations (not shown).

In FIG. 3C, portable information handling system 300-3 is shown in afolded tablet-style configuration that may be used on working surface306, which may represent a surface of a desk or a table or similarsurface. Alternatively, portable information handling system 300-3 maybe used in a portable manner while held by a user (not shown). As shown,portable information handling system 300-3 includes input device 302 anddisplay device 304 in the folded configuration for use as a tablet. InFIG. 3C, first hinge section 310-H1 of portfolio cover 310 permits inputdevice 302 to be folded behind display device 304 in the foldedconfiguration, while second hinge section 310-H2 of portfolio cover 310enables the cover portion of portfolio cover 310 to cover and protectinput device 302. In certain embodiments of the folded configuration ofportable information handling system 300-3, detention mechanisms (notshown) may be used to secure portions of portfolio cover 310 againstitself, such as magnets, clasps, snaps, and/or other means fordetention.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a block diagram of selected elements of anembodiment of method 400 for manufacturing a portfolio cover, asdescribed herein, is depicted in flowchart form. It is noted thatcertain operations described in method 400 may be optional or may berearranged in different embodiments.

In FIG. 4, method 400 may begin by preparing (operation 402) a firstpiece of carbon fiber material to a width W and a length given byL1+L2+L3+H1+H2. Preparation of the first piece in operation 402 mayinvolve cutting the carbon fiber material to desired dimensions andshape. A second piece of carbon fiber material may be prepared(operation 404) to the width W and the length L1 and prepregnated(operation 404) with a thermoplastic material and laminated (operation404) with a first high-strength polymer layer. The thermoplasticmaterial may be a thermoplastic resin. Then, a third piece of carbonfiber material may be prepared (operation 406) to the width W and thelength L2 and prepregnated (operation 406) with the thermoplasticmaterial and laminated (operation 406) with a second high-strengthpolymer layer. Next, a fourth piece of carbon fiber material may beprepared (operation 408) to the width W and the length L3 andprepregnated (operation 408) with the thermoplastic material andlaminated (operation 408) with a low-friction polymer layer. The firstpiece may be prepregnated (operation 410) with the thermoplasticmaterial at a first portion, a second portion, and a third portionrespectively corresponding to locations of L1, L2, and L3. The firstpiece may be laminated together (operation 412) with the second piece,the third piece, and the fourth piece, while a first hinge section and asecond hinge section respectively corresponding to H1 and H2 remainunprepregnated and unlaminated (operation 412).

The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, to the maximumextent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosure is to bedetermined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the followingclaims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited bythe foregoing detailed description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for manufacturing a portfolio cover fora portable information handling system, comprising: forming a firstpiece of carbon fiber material to a width W associated with the portableinformation handling system and in length to a sum of: a first length ofa first portion in the first piece corresponding to an input device ofthe portable information handling system; a second length of a secondportion in the first piece corresponding to a display device of theportable information handling system; a third length of a third portionin the first piece corresponding to a cover that extends to an entirelength of at least one of the display device and the input device; afourth length of a first hinge section in the first piece between thefirst portion and the second portion; and a fifth length of a secondhinge section in the first piece between the second portion and thethird portion; prepregnating a second piece of carbon fiber materialcorresponding in width to the width W and in length to the first lengthwith a thermoplastic material; prepregnating a third piece of carbonfiber material corresponding in width to the width W and in length tothe second length with the thermoplastic material; prepregnating afourth piece of carbon fiber material corresponding in width to thewidth W and in length to the third length with the thermoplasticmaterial; prepregnating the first piece with the thermoplastic materialat the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion; andforming the portfolio cover by laminating together the prepregnatedfirst piece, the prepregnated second piece, the prepregnated thirdpiece, and the fourth piece, wherein the first hinge section and thesecond hinge section remain unprepregnated, and wherein the first hingesection and the second hinge section are adjacent to the display device.2. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the portfolio cover includes,after the prepregnating the first piece: after the prepregnating thesecond piece, laminating the second piece to the first piece at thefirst portion, including laminating a first high-strength polymer layerto the second piece; after the prepregnating the third piece, laminatingthe third piece to the first piece at the second portion, includinglaminating a second high-strength polymer layer to the third piece; andafter the prepregnating the fourth piece, laminating the fourth piece tothe first piece at the third portion, including laminating alow-friction polymer layer to the fourth piece.
 3. The method of claim2, wherein the first high-strength polymer layer and the secondhigh-strength polymer layer comprise polyamide.
 4. The method of claim2, wherein the low-friction polymer layer comprises a graphitereinforced polyester.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:bonding the portfolio cover at the second portion to the display device;and bonding the portfolio cover at the first portion to the inputdevice.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the input device includes akeyboard and the display device includes a touch panel.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of the second piece and the third pieceincludes an antenna portion for accommodating a wireless communicationantenna.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the portfolio coverby laminating includes laminating under pressure, and wherein thethermoplastic material includes a thermoplastic resin.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the first hinge section and the second hinge sectionconsist of the carbon fiber material, and wherein the first hingesection enables the display device to rotate about the input device. 10.A portfolio cover for a portable information handling system,comprising: a first piece including carbon fiber material correspondinga width W associated with the portable information handling system andin length to a sum of: a first length of a first portion in the firstpiece corresponding to an input device of the portable informationhandling system; a second length of a second portion in the first piececorresponding to a display device of the portable information handlingsystem; a third length of a third portion in the first piececorresponding to a cover that extends to an entire length of at leastone of the display device and the input device; a fourth length of afirst hinge section in the first piece between the first portion and thesecond portion; and a fifth length of a second hinge section in thefirst piece between the second portion and the third portion; a secondpiece including carbon fiber material and corresponding in width to thewidth W and in length to the first length; a third piece includingcarbon fiber material and corresponding in width to the width W and inlength to the second length; and a fourth piece including carbon fibermaterial and corresponding in width to the width W and in length to thethird length, wherein the first piece is laminated together with thesecond piece, the third piece, and the fourth piece, and wherein thefirst hinge section and the second hinge section remain unlaminated, andwherein the first hinge section and the second hinge section areadjacent to the display device.
 11. The portfolio cover of claim 10,wherein: the second piece is laminated to the first piece and laminatedto a first high-strength polymer layer at the first portion; the thirdpiece is laminated to the first piece and laminated to a secondhigh-strength polymer layer at the second portion; and the fourth pieceis laminated to the first piece and laminated to a low-friction polymerlayer at the third portion.
 12. The portfolio cover of claim 11, whereinthe first high-strength polymer layer and the second high-strengthpolymer layer comprise polyamide, and wherein the low-friction polymerlayer comprises a graphite reinforced polyester.
 13. The portfolio coverof claim 10, wherein the input device includes a keyboard and thedisplay device includes a touch panel, and wherein: the input device isbonded to the portfolio cover at the first portion; the display deviceis bonded to the portfolio cover at the second portion.
 14. Theportfolio cover of claim 10, wherein at least one of the second pieceand the third piece includes an antenna portion for accommodating awireless communication antenna.
 15. The portfolio cover of claim 10,wherein the first hinge section and the second hinge section consist ofthe carbon fiber material, and wherein the first hinge section enablesthe display device to rotate about the input device.
 16. A portableinformation handling system, comprising: a display device; an inputdevice; and a portfolio cover, comprising: a first piece includingcarbon fiber material corresponding a width W associated with theportable information handling system and in length to a sum of: a firstlength of a first portion in the first piece corresponding to the inputdevice; a second length of a second portion in the first piececorresponding to the display device; a third length of a third portionin the first piece corresponding to a cover that extends to an entirelength of at least one of the display device and the input device; afourth length of a first hinge section in the first piece between thefirst portion and the second portion; and a fifth length of a secondhinge section in the first piece between the second portion and thethird portion; a second piece including carbon fiber material andcorresponding in width to the width W and in length to the first length;a third piece including carbon fiber material and corresponding in widthto the width W and in length to the second length; and a fourth pieceincluding carbon fiber material and corresponding in width to the widthW and in length to the third length, wherein the first piece islaminated together with the second piece, the third piece, and thefourth piece, and wherein the first hinge section and the second hingesection remain unlaminated, and wherein the first hinge section and thesecond hinge section are adjacent to the display device.
 17. Theportable information handling system of claim 16, wherein: the secondpiece is laminated to the first piece and laminated to a firsthigh-strength polymer layer at the first portion; the third piece islaminated to the first piece and laminated to a second high-strengthpolymer layer at the second portion; and the fourth piece is laminatedto the first piece and laminated to a low-friction polymer layer at thethird portion.
 18. The portable information handling system of claim 17,wherein the first high-strength polymer layer and the secondhigh-strength polymer layer comprise polyamide, and wherein thelow-friction polymer layer comprises a graphite reinforced polyester.19. The portable information handling system of claim 16, wherein theinput device includes a keyboard and the display device includes a touchpanel, and wherein: the input device is bonded to the portfolio cover atthe first portion; the display device is bonded to the portfolio coverat the second portion.
 20. The portable information handling system ofclaim 16, wherein the portable information handling system comprises awireless communication antenna, and wherein at least one of the secondpiece and the third piece includes an antenna portion for accommodatingthe wireless communication antenna.
 21. The portable informationhandling system of claim 16, wherein the first hinge section and thesecond hinge section consist of the carbon fiber material, and whereinthe first hinge section enables the display device to rotate about theinput device.